Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-11
IRONTON. MO- THURSDAY. AUGUST II. 1881
Jack and /.

line between Arkansas and the Indian
Territory; crossed the Boston noun
tains and passed through number oi
smell towns of no special importance.
The Indians lease a large portion OF
their land to the whites, who are farm
ing quite extensively. Many of them
have put up quite substantial improve
ments. Some of the Indians seem to
work also, and their crops of cotton
and corn look we'll. In the section
Immediately north of Boston noun
tains there is considerable w heat raised,
which will yield Is to 20 bushels to the
acre.
Passing the corner stone of Arkansas
and Missouri, I arrive at Southwest
City. a thriving town in the corner of
the last named state, claiming 500 in
habitants. Thence on through Cow
Skin prairie. 1t looks like business to
dian Territory on one side and Missou-
ri on the other, all farmed. A great
deal of freight passes over this road in
wagons, which reminds one Of old
times before the days of railroads In
this region.
Arrived at Baxter Springs. in the
corner of Kansas. find myself upon
familiar ground, having lived here
when the only human habitation was
a single log cabin near the spring. All
looks quite naturally Immediately
around the old spring. as the city has
taken pains to preserve the original
features Of the landscape. A new
spring has been opened higher up, Or
namented trees set out, Which give the
place a very pleasant appearance. The
ground upon which We used to camp
and picket our mules is now covered
with fine buildings. The question is
often asked "Does prohibition prohib-
it?" / will answer it in this way. ]
met an Indian a short distance from
Baxter and had some conversation
with him. Among other things he in
formed me that he was going to Seneca,
Mo-, as he could not get anything to
drink in Baxter.
Northward from there the country is
one continuous farm, as far as the eye
can reach, intersected by roads along
the section lines. ] followed one Sec
ton line due north for forty miles with
out an angle. Passed through Pitts
burgh, a city of 5000 inha habitants,
ambitious to equal its Eastern name
sake. i has several smelling furnaces
and the railroad shops are located here.
The W hole country is underlaid with
coal.
Approaching Dry Wood Greek I find
the character of the country changing.
The coal measures underlying the east
ern part of Kansas are principally be-
meath the limestone. the strata crop
ping out along Dry Wood, causing the
surface to be broken and rough. South
Of this the veins of coal crop ont, the
limestone entirely disappearing.
Sixty miles north of Baxter I reach
L
I'm place since I used tofreight through
here twenty-five years ago. Some of
the old landmarks remain, such as the
,fficers quarter and the old commisary
building in rather diIapidated condi-
ton, but serving to identify the locali-
ty. This is city with all the modern
electric lights, street
&C.. with population OF 12,-
700 and no saloons. Those of the people
who will have liquor pass their spare
cash "over the line" into Missouri, but
.he comparison as to prosperity is in
'avor of the western side of the line.
In due time I arrive at Mound City, |
he county seat of Linn county, where
some of my bnyhood days were spent.
Nearly thirty years since was "devil"
n the Linn County Herald, the first
paper published 10 this county. AS l
the town recognize old land
but many changes have taken |
place in town and people. most of the
after Icing strangers to me now. /
spent a few days with my sister here,
and then hasten on to visit other friends
at the old home in Centreville town.
ship.
Seventeen years is a long time, and |
many changes have taken place in and
around the old home since 1 left it.
Trees that were but withes grown from |
The seed are now tall and stately, furn-
shing grateful shade. The family that |
once gathered around the table are
scattered, probably never again to meet
beneath the old roof. None remain |
put the aged parents. Mother does |
not recognize her long absent son. But
A word brings me to her remembrance,
and she is the same dear mother as of
I'D. Father is not mnch changed, tho |
The frosts of a winters have whitened |
MS once black hair. After some time |
spent amid the old scenes again take |
I'D my journey toward the southwest. |
my objective point being Wichita, Kan.
Passing through Blue Mound find |
all traces of the late cyclone rapidly |
iisappearing. Long stretches of coun-
.ry that remember as bare prairie are |
now fenced up, fine farms and good |
houses lining the road on either side.
Cross the Neosho river at lola and pro-
,eed westward through Woodson coun-
y, sandstone region, very different |
rom most of the country In this state.
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